Dry break coupling

ABSTRACT

A low flow resistant dry break fluid coupling suitable for military and industrial refueling applications wherein the coupling is connected to a male adapter by radially displaceable detents operated by an axially movable locking sleeve. The coupling including a valve having a manual actuating handle which includes locking sleeve interference structure preventing the locking sleeve from being displaced to the adapter release position while the valve is in the open condition. Additionally, electric switch structure mounted upon the coupling body permits gloved actuation to control a fluid pump.

This is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/619,374 filed Nov.28, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,752.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Valved fluid couplings are utilized to control fluid flow circuitshaving coupling components which may be readily separated. Suchcouplings are often used in refueling systems for military andindustrial applications and valved couplings are known having valvecomponents automatically operated by interconnection of the couplingparts. If low fluid flow pressure loss and high flow rate is ofimportance valved couplings may utilize ball valves rotatable betweenfully open and closed positions by a 90° rotation of the ball valve. Theball valve operation may be manually controlled, or automaticallyregulated as operated by springs or the like. Examples of ball valvecouplings are shown in the assignee's U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,216 and4,884,591. It is also known to provide ball valve couplings operated bymanual handles with interlocking structure whereby the valves cannot beinadvertently opened or closed until the coupling parts are properlyconnected or disconnected, and an example of such ball valve couplingsare shown in the assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,779.

When interconnecting coupling parts with an axial movement between theparts it is well known to utilize radially movable detents in the femalecoupling connection end for being received within an annular groovedefined in the male coupling adapter. Such detents are radiallypositionable and maintainable by an axially displaceable locking sleevemounted upon the female coupling part, and a cam surface and a retainingsurface formed on the locking sleeve locates the detents in the desiredradial position depending upon the axial location of the sleeve.Usually, a spring biases the locking sleeve toward the detent retainingor locking condition.

Heretofore, to the inventors', knowledge, a high flow rate couplingutilizing an axially displaceable locking sleeve has not been availablewherein manual operation of the valve to rotate the valve from the opencondition to the closed condition has been interlocked in conjunctionwith a sleeve operation, and it is an object of the invention to providea low flow restrictive coupling having a manually operated valve whereinthe coupling parts are interconnected by an axially displaceable lockingsleeve and shifting of the locking sleeve from the coupling connectionposition to the release position is prevented until the coupling valveis closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high flow rate valvedcoupling of the "dry break" type wherein minimal loss of fluid occurswhen the coupling parts are separated, and yet, the coupling parts aremaintained in interconnection by an axially displaceable locking sleevewhich may only be released when the valved coupling valve is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dry break valvedcoupling of low fluid flow restriction and pressure loss in a couplingusing an axially displaceable locking sleeve, and an interlock existsbetween the coupling valve operator and the locking sleeve preventingrelease of the locking sleeve until the valve operator is in the closedposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dry break couplinghaving an electric switch mounted upon the exterior of the coupling bodywhich is capable of gloved actuation and dependable operation to controlthe pump supplying the coupling with pressurized fluid.

In the practice of the invention the coupling female body part includesa passage having a ball valve rotatable therein between 90° positions.One position of the ball valve aligns the diametrical passage of thevalve with the associated coupling passage permitting relativelyunrestricted fluid flow therethrough, and the closed position of thevalve locates the valve passage at right angles to the coupling passageto terminate fluid flow. Appropriate seals are interposed between thecoupling body and ball valve to render the assembly fluid tight.

The female coupling part includes a male adapter receiving recessadjacent the ball valve, and radially displaceable detents mountedwithin the recess engage with an annular groove defined upon the maleadapter under the control of an axially displaceable locking sleevemounted upon the female coupling body.

The locking sleeve includes conical cam and cylindrical detent retainingsurfaces and depending upon the axial position of the locking sleeve thedetents will be selectively radially displaceable to permitinterconnection and release of the adapter relative to the femalecoupling part, or the detents will be inwardly retained to preventdisconnection of the male adapter from the coupling part.

The ball valve is operated by an exterior handle located adjacent thefemale coupling part body, and the handle includes a pivotally mountedkeeper adapted to selectively associate with notches defined on thecoupling body wherein the valve handle may be positively maintained in avalve open or close position. The valve operating handle also includes alocking sleeve interference abutment surface substantiallyconcentrically located relative to the handle operating axis ofrotation, and the abutment is located in an interfering relationshipwith the locking sleeve when the valve is open preventing the lockingsleeve from being axially displaced from the adapter locked position tothe adapter release position until the valve handle has been fullyrotated to the valve closed condition. The use of the actuating handleabutment prevents the adapter from being released from the femalecoupling part until flow through the coupling part has been terminated,and this interlock, in conjunction with the "dry break" characteristicsderived from the use of a ball valve, eliminates the likelihood ofspillage which has significant environmental and safety advantages,particularly when handling inflammable and/or toxic fluids.

An electric switch is mounted upon the exterior surface of the femalecoupling part between a pair of protective spaced flanges which reducethe likelihood of inadvertent switch actuation. The flanges are spacedsufficiently apart to permit a gloved thumb to pivot the switch handlebetween operative positions, and a spring contact mounted upon theswitch handle selectively receives an enlarged head defined upon aterminal stud located on the female conduit body and extending into thebody passage.

The switch contact is resilient enough to pass over the head of theterminal stud to locate and retain the switch in the circuit closedposition, and the switch provides a positive movement between open andclosed positions. An electrical conductor wire attached to the terminalstud may pass through the hose associated with the coupling to initiatepump operation, and the switch construction provides dependable electriccircuit operation in a manner as to be positively sensed by theoperator. A spring pivots the switch handle toward the normal openposition and also defines the spring contact and the electricalconnection between the spring contact and the coupling body to assure agrounding circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will beappreciated from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a diametrical elevational sectional view of a female couplingpart in accord with the invention, the electric switch being shown inthe closed condition, the valve being illustrated in the open condition,and a male adapter and hose fitting being shown in phantom lines,

FIG. 2 is an elevational diametrical sectional view taken along Section2 --2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the valve handle keeper in the closedcondition and the valve in the open position, and the locking sleevebeing shown in the detent retaining position,

FIG. 3 is a diametrical elevational view similar to FIG. 2 illustratingthe ball valve in the closed position,

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the conduit part as taken from theright of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is an exterior plan view of the coupling as taken from the top ofFIG. 2, the valve operating handle being shown in the closed conditionin dotted lines,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the conduit body and thevalve, valve operating handle, and switch components,

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling body illustratingthe locking sleeve, adapter receiving sleeve and locking sleevestructure, and

FIG. 8 is an elevational partly sectional view as taken through theswitch contact along Section 8--8 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A dry break coupling utilizing the inventive concepts is generallyrepresented by numeral 10, and in its disclosed form the coupling 10constitutes the female coupling part of a two-part assembly whichincludes the male adapted 11, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, whichforms no part of the inventive concept.

The part 10 includes a generally elongated tubular body 12 having apassage 14 axially extending therethrough. The passage 14 intersects themale adapter receiving end 16 of the body 12, and the opposite end ofthe body constitutes the conduit connection end 18. The connection end18 includes interior threads 20 whereby a flexible conduit, such as ahose, not shown, may include a fitting, as later described, which isthreaded into the threads 20. The body 12 is provided with exteriorflats 22 for receiving a wrench to aid in tightening the coupling part10 upon the hose fitting.

A tubular adapter receiving sleeve 24 is mounted upon the male adapterreceiving end 16 by internal threads 26, and is sealed to the body 12 byelastomeric O-ring seal 28. The sleeve 24 includes a cylindrical nosesurface 30, and internally, includes the passage 32 concentricallyrelated to the body passage 14. The passage 32 includes the annularrecess 34 for receiving the O-ring seal 36 whereby a sealinginterconnection with the male adapter 11 is achieved as appreciated fromFIG. 1.

Three arcuate slots 38 are defined through the wall of the sleeve 24,and the slots 38 are of slightly less axial dimension adjacent thepassage 32 than exists at the nose surface 30 whereby the detents 40located within the slots 38 will not inwardly fall into the passage 32.The detents 40 constitute arcs which may be radially positioned upon thesleeve 24 by the locking sleeve 42, as later described. It will also beappreciated that the inventive concepts of the invention may bepracticed wherein the detents 40 constitute cylindrical balls, ratherthan arcs, and the particular configuration of the detents 40 is notcritical to the practice of the invention.

Operation of the detents 40 is achieved through the annular lockingsleeve 42 which circumscribes the adapter receiving sleeve 24. Thelocking sleeve 42 includes a cylindrical internal retaining surface 44directly engaging the nose surface 30, and a conical cam surface 46intersects the surface 44 adjacent the outer end of the locking sleeve.A compression spring 48 circumscribing nose surface 30 is interposedbetween the sleeve shoulder 50 and the locking sleeve shoulder 52whereby the spring 48 will bias the locking sleeve 42 toward the rightas viewed in FIGS. 1-3. Axial movement of the locking sleeve 42 on thesleeve 24 is limited by engagement of the cam surface 46 with the springclip 54 located within a groove formed in the nose surface 30 adjacentthe outer end of the adapter receiving sleeve 24.

The locking sleeve 42 is provided with an inner end surface 56 disposedtoward the coupling part body 12, and as later described the lockingsleeve's end surface 56 constitutes a significant aspect of theinventive concepts.

Internally, the body passage 14 is provided with a ball valve 58rotatably mounted therein. The ball valve 58 includes a spherical outersurface 60 and includes a cylindrical diametrically related bore 62having a diameter only slightly less than the diameter of the bodypassage 14 so as to minimize fluid flow pressure loss and maximize flowcapacity as fluid flows through the ball valve bore 62. An elastomericseal 64 mounted on the adapter receiving sleeve 24 engages the valvesurface 60 to render the relationship between the valve and the sleeve24 fluid tight.

The ball valve 58 is rotatably mounted within the passage 14 by a pairof journals or shafts rotatably received within diametrically relatedand coaxially aligned holes in the body 12. The longer shaft 66 and theshorter shaft 68 each include ends having flats defined thereon, FIG. 6,for being received within the slots 70 formed on opposite sides of theball valve 58. The shafts 66 and 68 are rotatably received within thecoaxially aligned body bores 72 and by use of the screws 74 and 76 theshafts 66 and 68, respectively, are attached to the ball valve.

An elongated handle 78 is mounted upon the shaft 66 as the shaft 66 isreceived within the handle hole 80 in a non-rotative manner. The handle78 includes a longer end 82 upon which the keeper 84 is pivotallymounted upon pivot 86, and the keeper is biased in a counterclockwisedirection, FIG. 2, by the spring leaf 88. A projection 90 is definedupon the keeper 84 for positioning the handle 78 as desired, as laterexplained.

The shorter end 92 of the handle 78 includes an abutment surface 94which is of a generally convex configuration, FIG. 5, generallyconcentric to the pivot axis of the ball valve 58 as defined by theshafts 66 and 68. The abutment surface 94 extends radially inwardly andis in axial alignment with the inner end 56 of the locking sleeve 42 topermit engagement therebetween as will be appreciated from FIG. 2 whenthe ball valve 58 is in the open position shown in FIG. 2.

A boss 95 is defined upon the exterior of the body 12 and a stop 96extends therefrom for engagement with the handle portion 82 when thehandle 78 is in the valve open position of FIG. 5. The body 12 isexteriorly provided with a notch 98, FIG. 6, which receives the keeperprojection 90, FIG. 20, when the handle 78 is in the valve openposition.

The boss 95 also includes a stop 102 against which the handle portion 82engages when the handle 78 is rotated to the valve closed position, andwhen the handle is engaging the stop 102 the projection 90 is receivedwithin the boss notch 103, FIG. 6.

A pair of flange extensions 104 are homogeneously defined upon theexterior of the body 12 as best appreciated from FIGS. 6 and 7. Theextensions 104 are parallel and spaced with respect to each other andthe pivoted switch handle 106 is located therebetween. The switch handle106 is of the large rocker type including obliquely related portionsdisposed on opposite sides of the pivot rod 108 which is mounted withinholes located in the extensions 104.

A spring 110, FIG. 6, includes coils extending about the pivot rod 108,and the U-shaped spring end 112 engages constitutes a switch contactlocated on the underside of the switch handle 106 and the spring ends114 bear upon a body insert in electrical connection to the body 12.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, a threaded insert 120 is radially locatedwithin the body 12 within the threaded bore 122, and the insert 120includes a bore 124 in which the electrical conducting stud 126 ismounted. The stud 126 includes a spherical head 128 which extendsupwardly toward the switch handle 106, and the stud 126 is electricallyinsulated from the insert 120 by the two dielectric insulation sleeves130. The stud extension 132 is threaded at 134 to the inner end of thestud 126 is also electrically isolated from the body 12 and includes thehead 136.

The head 136 is adapted to e engaged by a contact 138 mounted in thehose fitting associated with the hose electrical conductor wire 140,FIG. 1, whereby upon threading the hose fitting, represented in phantomlines at 142, into the threads 20 an electrical connection is madebetween the extension head 136 and the hose fitting contact 138 andconductor 140.

When the coupling 10 is mounted upon the hose fitting 142 the valvehandle 78 will, of course, be in the closed dotted line position shownin FIG. 5. In this position the handle abutment surface 94 will be swungclear of the locking sleeve 42, the keeper projection 90 will beengaging the boss notch 103, and usually, the switch handle 106 will bepivoted in the clockwise direction, FIG. 1, whereby the spring contact112 will not be in engagement with the stud head 128. The spring 48 willhave biased the locking sleeve 42 toward the right, FIG. 3, wherein thelocking sleeve retaining surface 44 will be in radial alignment with thedetents 40.

In order to permit the male adapter 11 to be inserted into the adapterreceiving sleeve passage 32 the locking sleeve 42 will be axiallydisplaced to the left removing the detents from radial alignment withthe surface 44 and the cam surface 46. Thereupon, the male adapter 11may be inserted into the passage 32 and the nose of the male adapterwill radially move the detents 40 outwardly so that the adapter may befully located within the passage 32 such that the adapter annular groove144 will be aligned with the detents 40. Thus, upon release of thelocking sleeve 44 to permit spring 48 to bias the sleeve 42 to theright, FIG. 1, the cam surface 46 will engage the detents 40 forcing thedetents into the male adapter groove 144, and thereafter the lockingsleeve retaining surface 44 will be radially disposed over the detents40 maintaining the detents in a positive locking relationship with theadapted groove 144 interconnecting the coupling part 10 to the maleadapter 11 in the known manner.

It will be appreciated that when the locking sleeve 42 is displaced tothe left, FIG. 2, during the interconnection of the coupling part 10 andthe adapter 11, during this displacement of the locking sleeve the ballvalve handle 78 cannot be rotated in a clockwise, FIG. 5, direction toopen the valve as the abutment surface 94 would engage the lockingsleeve inner end 56. However, after the locking sleeve 42 has returnedto the locking condition shown in FIGS. 1-3 the ball valve handle 78 canbe rotated in the clockwise direction, FIG. 5, to open the ball valve 58to permit full flow through the coupling part 10 and the adapter 11. Ofcourse, to permit this clockwise rotation of the handle 78 the keeper 84must be lifted against the biasing force of the leaf spring 88 to removethe projection 90 from the notch 103. When the handle 78 is in the fullopen position the keeper projection 90 will engage the notch 98 toinsure maintaining of the valve in the open position.

With the valve handle 78 in the open position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5the handle abutment surface 94 is in axial alignment with the lockingsleeve inner end 56 and the locking sleeve 42 cannot be displacedaxially to the adapter release position preventing inadvertent releaseof the coupling part 10 and the adapter 11 while the valve 58 is in theopen position. It is to be noted that the abutment surface 94 had asignificant circumferential dimension whereby movement of the lockingsleeve in the release direction is prevented until the handle 78 hasfully closed the valve 58, and the configuration of the valve handle end92 is such that interference occurs with the locking sleeve until thevalve handle has fully closed the valve.

Once the valve handle 78 has been rotated in the counterclockwisedirection to the dotted line closed position, FIG. 5, the locking sleeve42 may be displaced inwardly sufficiently to release the detents 40 andpermit the adapter 11 to be removed from the adapter receiving sleeve24.

The location of the switch structure upon the body 12 permits the pumpsupplying pressurized fluid to the coupling part 10 to be remotelyenergized once the interconnection between coupling part 10 and adapter11 has been achieved. Depressing of the handle 106 will force the springend contact 112 over the stud head 128 and the interrelationship betweenthe head 128 and contact 112 will maintain the switch handle 106 in the"on" condition. In this relationship of the switch components electricalinterconnection between the extension 132 and the body 112 is achievedas the spring ends 114 electrically engage the insert 120, and thisshorting of the circuit through conductor 140 is sensed by thecircuitry, not shown, associated with the pump, not shown, providingfluid to the coupling part 10. This type of pump operation is known inthe art, however, the construction of the switch components provideshighly dependable operation, and the location of the large switch handle106 between the extensions 104 prevents inadvertent operation of thehandle 106, yet the configuration of the switch handle permits theswitch to be pivoted by a gloved operator, which is highly desirableunder low temperature conditions of use.

It will be appreciated that the use of the ball valve 58 permits thecoupling part 10 and adapter 11 to be disconnected with a minimum lossof fluid from the coupling 10, and the use of the interlock between thevalve handle and the operation of the locking sleeve 42 furtherminimizes the likelihood of accidental spills of fuel or toxic fluids.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive conceptsmay be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A fluid coupling comprising a body having an axis, aconduit connection end, a male adapter fitting receiving end, a passageconnecting the ends, radially movable detents mounted on said fittingreceiving end adapted to selectively engage with and retain a maleadapter fitting within the male fitting receiving end, and a lockingsleeve mounted on the body for independent axial movement thereonbetween a lock position radially translating and maintaining the detentsinwardly to lock with a male fitting and an unlock position permittinglimited radial outward movement of the detents to release the malefitting, the improvement comprising, a rotatable valve within the bodypassage controlling fluid flow therethrough, a movable valve operatorexteriorly mounted on the body operatively connected to said valve forselectively rotating said valve between open and closed positions, saidvalve operator comprising a handle having a long end and a short end,interference means mounted on said handle short end selectivelypositionable within the path of movement of the locking sleeve wherebypositioning of said handle in the valve open position locates saidinterference means within the path of movement of the locking sleevewhen axially moving from the lock position to the unlock positionrequiring the valve to be in said closed position prior to release ofthe detents and the male fitting from the male fitting receiving bodyend and a keeper mounted upon said handle long end selectively movablebetween handle locking and handle operating positions, a detent definedon said keeper, first and second spaced detent receiving means definedon the body adapted to selectively cooperate with said keeper detentwhen said handle is positioned at said valve open and closed positions,said keeper locking said handle at said valve positions.
 2. In a fluidcoupling as in claim 1, said interference means comprising an abutmentdefined on said handle short end.
 3. In a fluid coupling as in claim 2,said abutment including a convex arcuate surface substantiallyconcentric to said shaft axis of sufficient circumferential dimension toprevent movement of the locking sleeve from the lock position to theunlock position until said valve is in said closed position.
 4. A fluidcoupling comprising a body having an axis, a conduit connection end, amale adapter fitting receiving end, a passage connecting the ends,radially movable detents mounted on said fitting receiving end adaptedto selectively engage with and retain a male adapter fitting within themale fitting receiving end, and a locking sleeve mounted on the body foraxial movement thereon between a lock position radially translating andmaintaining the detents inwardly to lock with a male fitting and anunlock position permitting limited radial outward movement of thedetents to release the male fitting, the improvement comprising, a valvewithin the body passage controlling fluid flow therethrough, a movablevalve operator exteriorly mounted on the body operatively connected tosaid valve for selectively moving said valve between open and closedpositions, interference means mounted on said valve operator selectivelypositionable within the path of movement of the locking sleeve wherebypositioning of said valve operator in the valve open position locatessaid interference means within the path of movement of the lockingsleeve when axially moving from the lock position to the unlock positionrequiring the valve to be in said closed position prior to release ofthe detents and the male fitting from the male fitting receiving bodyend, said valve being rotatably mounted within the body passage upon ashaft rotatable about an axis substantially diametrically related to thepassage, said valve operator comprising a handle mounted on said shaft,a keeper mounter upon said handle selectively movable between handlelocking and handle operating positions, a detent defined on said keeper,first and second spaced detent receiving means defined on the bodyadapted to selectively cooperate with said keeper detent when saidhandle is positioned at said valve open and closed positions, saidkeeper locking said handle at said valve positions, said keeper beingpivotally mounted upon said handle, and spring means biasing said keepertowards its handle locking position.